FRENCH law firm Abdelhay and Anne Sefrioui has opened an office in Hongkong to tap into the Arab-China investment market and to cater to the territory's 350-plus French firms.

The firm, which officially opened its Central Plaza office on Wednesday, starts with three senior lawyers.

Senior partner Abdelhay Sefrioui says the firm will specialise in Euro-Arab international dealings and will offer Arab law services, which he claims will be a first in Hongkong.

He said: ''There is tremendous business flow between Arab countries and Asia-Pacific countries: investments, international contracts, finance and joint ventures.

''There is also a very important trading flow between this part of the world and the Arab world, worth billions of US dollars a year, and no one can tell you today what are the specific requirements of the Saudi law on distribution or Jordanian law on joint ventures or Algerian law on intermediaries in international dealings.''